I’ve made some subtle improvements to Ina Garten’s Cauliflower Gratin to make this top rated side dish even easier, and more delicious. Try it this holiday season with (or without) my tweaks, you’ll love it!
Ok, claiming to update one of the Contessa’s recipes is pretty arrogant, I cop to that, because among all the celebrity chefs Ina’s recipes are consistently the most reliable. She’s known for being a meticulous recipe tester and it shows. But good food is an art, and artists can approach the same subject from slightly different angles with equally great results. And when you start with something amazing and make it a little bit better, everybody wins.
Whether you’re on team Ina or team Great Island, you’re going to love this classic side dish. It’s amazing either way 🙂
Cauliflower gratin starts with a nice fresh head of cauliflower.
Fresh cauliflower is delicate, which is why you see it wrapped in plastic at the supermarket. Look for one that’s pure white and unblemished. If you see browning through the plastic (it’s not harmful, just a little oxidation) pass it up. Rummage until you find one that’s firm and snowy white. Look for fresh green leaves still attached.
For this recipe look for a head that is about 3 pounds. Once it’s trimmed and cored you’ll have the right amount. A little bigger is fine, but a smaller head might not fill your gratin dish.
It’s important to par cook the cauliflower before baking the gratin
Otherwise it won’t get cooked though and your gratin won’t have that soft melting texture that makes it famous. Ina boils hers in a big pot of water, pasta style.
UPDATE: No need for the big steamy pot of boiling water…pop the florets into a large microwave safe bowl, cover with plastic or a microwave cover, and cook for 4 minutes. Don’t add any water, there’s enough moisture in the cauliflower to steam it perfectly. This saves tons of time, avoids a watery gratin, and mushy cauliflower. Bonus, the cauliflower retains more of its nutrients with this cooking method.
The creamy base of a gratin is a white sauce, or béchamel, in France.
UPDATE: Ina uses milk for her sauce, but I’ve tweaked that to 1 1/2 cups milk plus 1/2 cup cream. Again, this is a special occasion dish, and that bit of cream makes it special. Also, adding cream helps insure that the sauce stays smooth and creamy, without curdling, as it bakes.
Ina boils her sauce for a minute before adding the cheese, but I don’t. As soon as I see the first bubbles I take it off the heat. There’s no need to boil because the sauce has already thickened by that point.
Good sharp cheese is essential to creamy casseroles and gratins.
Creamy sauces seem to absorb flavor as they cook (this isn’t scientific, but definitely observed) and so I find you have to pay special attention to using strongly flavored cheeses and plenty of salt. Ina uses Gruyère which is a good sharp French cheese. It’s pricey but this is a special occasion dish so I think worth it. You could also use sharp cheddar but I sometimes find it doesn’t melt as smoothly.
UPDATE: Ina uses 1/2 cup of grated Gruyere in the sauce, I’ve upped it to one full cup so the flavor is noticeable and the sauce is extra cheesy. Don’t be tempted to increase the amount of Parm, though, that might be too sharp.
Assembly shortcut
Ina uses a layering technique in her gratin; she lays down a layer of sauce, then tops it with the cauliflower, and then spoons the remaining sauce over top.
UPDATE: I find it much easier, and better, to stir the cauliflower right into the saucepan with the cheese sauce and then turn everything into the gratin dish. It’s all mixed perfectly, and there are no naked florets hanging out without a coating of sauce.Â
The crumb topping on a gratin is everybody’s favorite part
Diners will clash over who gets more of it on their plate. Don’t be surprised if an unscrupulous family member tries to siphon off more than their share 🙂
UPDATE: More is better when it comes to a crumb topping, especially when you mix it with cheese and melted butter. Ina uses 1/4 cup crumbs, but I’ve doubled that.
Ina calls for fresh breadcrumbs, but I think dried are better and crunchier for a gratin. I also make my own crumbs with herb crackers; it’s an instant flavor boost over plain crumbs.
Oven temperature matters
Gratins and cheesy casseroles are fairly easy to assemble, but I find that sometimes things can go wrong in the oven at the last minute. Ovens often run hot, and excess heat can ruin a gratin.
UPDATE: Ina bakes her gratin in a 375F oven. I’m sure this works great for her, but I’ve noticed over the years that higher heat can curdle a gratin (or mac and cheese) and ruin the texture. I prefer to play it safe at 350F and increase the temp at the end if I feel I need extra browning. This allows enough time for the sauce to get bubbly throughout, and the top to turn golden. Don’t be tempted to put this under the broiler, that’s a sure way to get the sauce to split and the crumbs to burn.
Speaking of temperature, Ina states that the dish can be served hot or at room temperature…I beg to differ, the dish needs to be hot.
Classic casseroles for fall and winter
- Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole
- Sweet Corn Spoonbread Casserole
- Green Bean Casserole
- Butter Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
- Pumpkin Souffle Casserole
- French Potato and Onion Gratin
Cauliflower Gratin
Ingredients
- 1 head of cauliflower (about 3 pounds)
Sauce
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 Tbsp flour
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
- 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg (more to taste)
- 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (I used shredded Parm, if you're using the fine powdered version, use a little less.)
Crumb topping
- 1/2 cup cracker or bread crumbs. I like to make crumbs out of seasoned crackers for extra flavor. Directions below in the notes.
- 1/4 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Remove the outer leaves from the cauliflower and separate into florets. Separate or slice them into approximately 1 inch pieces. I like to leave the florets intact as much as possible because it looks pretty. Leave short sections of the stem on, they're delicious.
- Put the cauliflower into a large microwave safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a microwave cover. (Do not add water.) Microwave on high for 4 minutes and set aside.
- Toss the crumb topping ingredients together with a fork until everything is evenly moistened, and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a large heavy saucepan and add the flour. Stir and cook for a minute, but don't let it brown.
- Before adding the milk and cream, it's best to heat them up, and I do this in the microwave, just heat until hot to the touch. Slowly add the hot milk/cream to the flour mixture, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Bring this up to a boil over medium heat, stirring and scraping the sides of the pan almost constantly. When the mixture has thickened and you see the first bubbles, take off the heat. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Let the pan sit for a minute or so to cool slightly, then whisk in the cheeses. Stir until completely melted. Add the cauliflower (if there is any water in the bowl leave it behind) and fold in well.
- Turn everything into your casserole dish and top with the crumb topping. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the whole casserole is bubbling and the top is starting to turn golden.
Notes
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How to make cracker crumbs
Roughly break apart crackers and put them in a food processor (a small or large one will work) Pulse repeatedly and then let the machine run until the crackers are finely ground. Any extra crumbs can be kept in a zip lock baggie in the pantry.Cauliflower gratin variation suggestions:
- You can roast the cauliflower instead of microwaving it.Â
- Other cheese choices might be Smoked Gruyere, Manchego, Cheddar, Gouda, or Swiss.
- Broccoli florets, Brussels sprouts, carrots, or thinly sliced potatoes can be used instead of cauliflower.
- Add a dollop of mustard to the sauce for a little zing.
- Add chopped ham.
Nutrition
Hi! Can this recipe be frozen? Before or after baking? I’ve made Ina’s but this looks better! Love your recipes! Thanks!
Gosh, creamy cheesy sauces aren’t the best candidates for freezing, I’m afraid!
I made this again for this evening’s meal, and each time it gets better and better. My family loves Gruyere and the combination of that and fresh Parmesan along with a bit of dijon is fabulous. The topping adds another dimension of flavor and texture, I could eat this for breakfast every morning and not get sick of it! Excellent recipe
I’ve made it multiple times, too, Kelly. It’s become one of our staples.
Made this dish the other night to great reviews! Sue, just wondering if you have a favorite cracker for the topping? I used Ritz because that’s what I had in the house, but I’m sure you have something better up your sleeve. :0)
Have been using this recipe for years, and always get rave reviews. Roasting (instead of parboiling) to ‘precook’ the cauliflower adds another level of flavor and (along with the change from 2 cups milk to 1.5 cups milk and 0.5 cup cream) prevents the dish from becoming a bit watery. It’s great!!!!!!!
I just made this last night, coincidentally. I find the microwave does a great job of tenderizing the cauliflower without making it watery, but I so love roasted cauliflower, too.
Hi,
I am planning on making this on Thanksgiving. Can this be made a day before or no?
Thanks much!
Joy
You should be fine, just leave it on the counter for an hour before baking, and don’t put the topping on until just before baking.